The Maria Theresa Thaler 1780

Original and Restrike

Content

Various articles claim that the Maria Theresia Taler was
re-struck with an unchanged appearance since 1780.
However, this is only really true for restrikes made after about 1850.
Earlier strikes are typically relatively easy to identify.
Unfortunately, the statement may cause collectors - and sometimes
dealers - to believe that their coins might be original coins
struck in 1780 or shortly thereafter.
Sometimes such coins will actually be sold as "original strike".

This statement is incorrect, even if considering strikes dated earlier
than 1858 (i.e., while the Taler was an official currency) to be originals.
Most of the so called "originals" have in reality been struck after 1858.

Below you will find
two coins struck in 1780 (Vienna mint), a coin struck around 1781
(Guenzburg mint), and a current restrike.
This may help to identify basic differences between earlier strikes
and more recent restrikes.

Vienna Mint, 1780

Guenzburg Mint, around 1781

Assumption for the 1780 Guenzburg strike is that
the letter A should be pointed instead of flat as in this specimen.
Signature may be S.F. or S:F:.

Modern Restrike

Struck more than 300.000.000 times worldwide.

Key identification characteristics for the 1780 strikes
are in particular the form of the brooche in the veil on the obverse
(no pearls, except for the later Vienna mint strike),
the form of the letter 'U' in the reverse (AUST.DUX instead of AVST.DUX),
the form of the cross next to the the year on the obverse,
and the form of the ' 7 ' in the year.
Older Vienna mint strikes (earlier than 1850)
are signed I.C.-F.A. instead of S.F.